A library, but for 'stuff'? That's the idea behind Somerset's 'stuffbrary'

Friday

Jan 13, 2017 at 5:29 PMJan 13, 2017 at 5:34 PM

Deborah Allard Herald News Staff Reporter @debsallard

FALL RIVER — Do you need a ukulele?

Maybe an electric stud finder? How about a Big Bird- or Hello Kitty-shaped cake pan?

The Somerset Public Library is lending those items and more — in addition to books, of course. That’s still its main business. And all you need is a library card.

The “stuffbrary” program started with a few cake pans donated from Library Director Bonnie Mendes’ husband. A while later, more cake pans were added, plus cake decorating books and instructions for those wanting to try their hand at making a theme cake in their own kitchen.

“Then we expanded to cookie cutters,” Mendes said.

Most recently, two ukuleles and a keyboard were added to the collection.

Apparently, playing the ukulele is trending right now. Yes, you can learn how at home with the help of an online program you can access with your library card.

You won’t, however, find any wind instruments in the stuffbrary collection. They’d have to be sanitized.

“We’re staying away from anything with germs,” Mendes said.

Lots more things have been added to the collection, which sits on some metal shelves not far from the reference section in the library.

“It’s the kind of stuff you don’t need all the time, but maybe once in a while,” Mendes explained.

If you’ve ever wanted to try out bird watching, you can borrow the needed equipment and see if you enjoy searching out woodpeckers and loons in the woods before making an expensive store purchase.

For kids, there’s lots of “stuff,” like travel games to keep the young ones busy in the back seat, and oodles of educational themed projects to do with nature, food, farming and more.

Next up, knitting supplies including needles, yarn and instructional materials, and a canning pot and utensils, will be added.

“We’re cataloguing them now,” Mendes said.

The library is asking patrons what they’d like to see in the stuffbrary. Perhaps you’d like to borrow some hand tools? A scrapbooking kit? Maybe a banjo or guitar? How about a telescope, microscope or binoculars? You can make your own suggestions too by filling out a survey at the library.

“Libraries are ever-changing,” Mendes said. “We’re trying to keep up with it.”

The trend is catching on at libraries elsewhere, too, including in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett.